Crochet Then and Now!

Fabrics/Yarn

THEN: People first crocheted with wool yarn or fine cotton, silk, or linen thread.

NOW: There is a large variety of materials used now, such as Acrylic, cotton, wool, nylon…and so on. There is an increase in the demand for more organic materials.

Crochet Hooks

THEN: Vintage Victorian hooks were handmade, usually with materials such as real ivory, brass, various woods, and other bone material. Most vintage hooks were ornately carved and that the more ornately carved crocheting hooks had a higher likelihood of being a wedding gift. It is believed that the earliest crocheted projects were made by finger crocheting using fingers instead of the traditional crochet hook that we use today.

NOW: Today, crochet hooks are made in a variety of sizes and materials. They range is sizes that are small and delicate used for lacey works or large and bulky used for afghans.
The materials used can be aluminum, plastic and metal.
Surgeons typically include a crochet hook as one of the primary instruments when performing arthroscopic surgery.

Who?

THEN: Crocheting, as we know it today, did not become widely popular until the 1840's. Crochet was primarily looked at as a womans hobby.

NOW: Men are starting to crochet for it’s relaxing qualities.

Giveaway!

Ok fans, I've finished my first official pattern and decided to have a giveaway! All you have to do is comment on the post on my facebook page. There will be two winners. One commenter will win the Button Up Fingerless Gloves pattern and the person with the most refferals will win the Button Up Beanie pattern! Spread the word!

Forever and a Day

My patterns are now available in my Etsy shop!

Tambouring pictures

Here are a couple pictures of the Tambouring technique I mentioned in the previous post. It looks very interesting. I just might try this! I found these pictures on the Crochet World website.

The design desired is first traced onto the fabric.

This is a pointed hook that is inserted through the fabric. The thread is then pulled back through the fabric. The hook is moved to a different spot on the fabric and inserted again. Continuing in this pattern until the desired design is completed.

Parent of crochet? - Week 3

Here is a needlwork techique that I found while researching. I've never heard of this before. Have you?

Research demonstrates that the ancient Chinese and Persian form of embroidery called “tambour” (which in French means "drum") probably is the most direct “parent” of crochet.  Tambouring reached Europe in the 1700’s and is a technique in which a background fabric is held taut on a frame.  This involved an underneath thread, the working stitch which was then pulled up through the fabric on a hook and drawn into another loop of the working thread that would create a chain stitch.

I think this type of "crocheting" would be more difficult than what we now call crochet. What do you think?

Patriotism and Crochet - Week 2

As I promised in the previous post, here is the discount that will only be available until Wednesday July 6th at 11:59 pm MST. All booties and Adult slippers 50% off! Wow that is a big discount! If you would like to take advantage of this offer e-mail me your order and within 24 hours I will send you a paypal invoice with the amount owed. Here is this weeks crochet fun fact!

In researching a patriotic post for this week I discovered that crochet was not as popular in the original colonies as it was in France or England. Knitting seemed to be more popular. Wives of the soldiers fighting for independence would knit socks to support their men in the war.

I feel that handmade lends more support than anything else when you are not able to be close to your loved ones.

Thank you to all the past, present and future soldiers fighting for our continual freedom. May God bless you and your families for this great sacrifice.